Innovative Composites International, a Canadian builder, will construct plastic homes for thousands of earthquake victims in Haiti. The units it will build are expected to cost less, but be stronger, more environment-friendly and easier to assemble compared to houses built using traditional construction materials. The technology involves combining high-strength fibers with low-cost plastic and making available structural applications in lieu of steel, concrete and wood with a strong, light and 100 percent recyclable material. An official of the Canadian Home Builders Association said wood, which is usually used for house framing in Canada, is not an ideal building materials for Haiti and in other countries with warm and tropical climates because of the need to treat wood for decay. The material that Innovative Composites will use is expected to withstand hurricanes and tremors.

More than one million homes were destroyed by the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010. In October, Innovative Composites was named a finalist of the Building Back Better Communities housing competition in Port-au-Prince. The firm has as its partners for the project 3D Global Solutions and Barclays Gedi Group, which are private U.S. companies.

Their consortium promised to deliver 5,000 houses yearly. The housing project, which is expected to cost $4 billion, would be divided among 6 to 10 developers. US$4-billion fund has been established under the stewardship of former U.S. president Bill Clinton.